Batch Controllers
Batch Controllers are known as management of documents or electronic media that have been grouped, cataloged and are waiting for processing.It is an industrial control application that makes products in vats and tanks rather than in a continuous series of processes that flow from one stage to the next.
Batch Controller provides precise sensing and dispensing of liquids into a container or process vessel in food, chemical, pharmaceutical, oil and gas and other process industry applications. It monitors flow, temperature and density; controls valves and pumps; and dispenses the exact amount requested by the programmed recipe. The controller can work with a single valve and pump in automatic or manual mode, or with two valves for two-stage batching. Two RA33 controllers can work together for batch mixing of two ingredients. The RA33 calculates the exact volume to be dispensed based on an analog or pulse signal from a flow sensor and its built-in temperature or density compensation functions. It has a compact housing for wall, panel or DIN rail mounting, making the device usable in all environments. The RA33 works in ambient temperatures of -4 to 140°F, has an IP65-rated front panel, and the housing meets IP66 and NEMA 4X requirements. The RA33 accepts inputs from flow, temperature, pressure and density sensors. Outputs can control two valves and two pumps, and it has up to four digital outputs for one- or two-stage valve control or for the control of other devices such as signal lamps. The RA33 also has optional USB, RS485, Ethernet, and Modbus TCP and RTU interfaces for communications with an external control system or PC.
Batch controllers have become an industry standard in process installations. The days of measuring by hand into a bucket which was balanced on a weigh scale has, thankfully almost gone. Modern manufacturing processes require consistent product and recipe’s which remove the potential errors and safety aspects which we used to see. Modern batch controllers will deliver product into a vessel by controlling a valve and/or pump to start and stop the flow. They can slowly allow the flow to start and smoothly stop it at the end which reduces wear on pumps/flowmeters and shock to pipework. In addition they will automatically compensate for any overrun in the system, produce an alarm if flow fails for any reason will even log previous batches so that you can verify your production.
Operating Principle
Batch controllers receives a frequency or 4-20 mA signal from any flow meter and displays a digital flow rate and/or total flow with retransmission of the original signal if desired.